Urgent advice has been issued to Brits heading to Benidorm this summer over an “illegal activity” that appears to be rife on the Spanish city’s beaches.
The problem was highlighted by holidaymakers, Mark and Karen Gregory, who took to TikTok to claim tourists potentially face a hefty fine if falling foul of the crime. “Don’t buy cocktails on the beach,” they urged in a video recorded on the Costa Blanca.
Sharing footage of cocktail salesmen in action on the sand, the pair continued: “They’re illegal, they’re not made in a bar – they’re made in a quiet alley. However, it’s not just the vendors that face prosecution.
“And YOU can be fined if you’re caught buying one,” Mark and Karen claimed. Their clip, which has been viewed more than 800,000 times, prompted scores of Brits to respond.
“Not only is it illegal, how on earth can you guarantee what’s in them cocktails? It could be anything!” one TikTok user said in reply.
A second person claimed: “They are also made with dirty water, I actually seen one of these men get caught by police when I went to Benidorm on a hen do last year.”
A third also alleged: “Watched them make them in the public toilet two years ago.” Whilst a fourth TikTok user recalled: “I was even approached by one of these guys, came into my face while sunbathing, scared the s*** out of me. He said ‘here have this one for free’, no ice cubes in it, begging me to take it.”
“They’re a pain in the a**s aren’t they?” Mark and Karen responded.
Sticking up for the salemen, however, an individual commented: “They are made in pubs facing the beaches. If pub doesn’t get much customers in, staff walk beaches on 12-hour shifts, six days a week. Why they do this? No money, no wage.”
On the contrary, however, Mark and Karen hit back in reply, reiterating: “They are made in cars and in alleys unfortunately. Seen them do it.”
Meanwhile, Michelle Baker, who relocated to Spain 40 years ago has also warned visitors to be vigilant. “Phone theft is the No1 crime in Benidorm and it’s now taken a scarier twist,” she wrote in her own Benidorm Forever Facebook group.
She continued: “I’m generally very positive about Benidorm, but several people I know personally have told me this happened to them recently (all of whom I consider streetwise individuals and none were drunk).”
“You’re approached by an agitated young individual who has ‘lost’ his friends and can’t remember where he’s staying,” Michelle added. “He explains vaguely where he thinks it is and you open Google Maps on your phone to help him find his way.
“Once your phone is unlocked he snatches it and runs FAST; with adrenaline on his side he’s a two second head-start before you even react. Quickly passing the phone to tech savvy experts, within minutes passwords were expertly changed and large amounts of savings swiped.”
The UK government’s advice on alcohol consumption in Benidorm is as follows: “It’s illegal to drink alcohol in the street in some areas of Spain. You can get an on-the-spot fine. There are strict controls on drinking and sexual activity in public places, including on beaches.”
Benidorm City Council (Ayuntamiento de Benidorm) has been invited to comment on the claims.